When do total lunar eclipses occur?(1 point)
Responses
infrequently during the full moon
infrequently during the full moon
every month during the full moon
every month during the full moon
infrequently during the new moon
infrequently during the new moon
every month during the new moon
infrequently during the full moon
Lunar eclipses occur infrequently during the full moon.
Total lunar eclipses occur infrequently during the full moon. To understand why, let's first clarify what a total lunar eclipse is.
A lunar eclipse happens when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon in such a way that it blocks the sunlight from reaching the Moon. When this occurs, the Moon can take on a reddish or coppery color, leading to the term "blood moon."
Now, a lunar eclipse can only occur during a full moon because that's when the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun. This alignment allows the Earth to cast a shadow on the Moon, causing the eclipse.
However, not every full moon results in a lunar eclipse. This is because the Moon's orbit is tilted relative to the Earth's orbit around the Sun. As a result, most of the time, the Moon passes above or below the Earth's shadow during a full moon. This means we won't see a lunar eclipse during those times.
So, in summary, total lunar eclipses occur infrequently during the full moon because the alignment of the Moon, Earth, and Sun has to be just right for the Earth's shadow to fall on the Moon.